Who Would Like This Book:
If you love dark, surreal short stories that burrow under your skin, "Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird" is a must-read. Bazterrica’s haunting, atmospheric writing turns morbid topics into mesmerizing, vivid tableau that stay with you long after you finish. Perfect for anyone who enjoys experimental horror or the unsettling works of Mariana Enriquez, Samanta Schweblin, or Leonora Carrington. The stories are punchy, emotional, and delightfully unpredictable - great for readers who like quick, chilling reads.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the style a bit too experimental, with endings that felt abrupt or unsatisfying, as if the stories were sketches and not fully fleshed out. If you’re after clear resolutions or straightforward narratives, or you’re sensitive to disturbing content like death and abuse, this collection might not be for you. Fans of Bazterrica’s "Tender is the Flesh" may also find this collection doesn’t quite reach the same heights.
About:
Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica is a chilling collection of short stories that delve into the darker aspects of human nature. The themes explored include death, suicide, child molestation, and a haunting observation of the human gaze. Bazterrica's writing is noted for its surreal yet vivid imagery, creating an atmospheric experience that evokes deep emotions and often leaves readers with a sense of dread. Readers may find themselves captivated by the unexpected twists in the stories, though opinions vary on their overall strength and cohesiveness.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains high content warnings for themes such as death, suicide, child molestation, and emotional distress.
From The Publisher:
An NPR Best Book of 2023
A collection of nineteen dark, wildly imaginative short stories from the author of the award-winning TikTok sensation Tender Is the Flesh.
From celebrated author Agustina Bazterrica , this collection of nineteen brutal, darkly funny short stories takes into our deepest fears and through our most disturbing fantasies. Through stories about violence, alienation, and dystopia, Bazterrica's vision of the human experience emerges in complex, unexpected ways-often unsettling, sometimes thrilling, and always profound. In "Roberto," a girl claims to have a rabbit between her legs. A woman's neighbor jumps to his death in "A Light, Swift, and Monstrous Sound," and in "Candy Pink," a woman fails to contend with a difficult breakup in five easy steps.
Written in Bazterrica's signature clever, vivid style, these stories question love, friendship, family relationships, and unspeakable desires.
Ratings (11)
Loved It (3) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (34):
Read It (12) | |
Want To Read (20) | |
Not Interested (2) |
3 comment(s)
This was an interesting collection. Some hits, lots of mids, and a handful of misses. The tone for a lot of these stories was really similar in a really monotonous way. My favorites were a Light, Swift, and Monstrous Sound and Candy Pink.
I'm so mad that I didn't end up enjoying this. I liked maybe 2-4 stories in this but the rest of them I either did not understand or did not like at all.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
I was so excited when I saw this come available! Tender is the flesh was a great, well thought out story. I have more trouble getting in to short story collections, but there were a few gems throughout. I think the sense of space, and finding unique moments in mundane settings is one of this author's strong suits. A unique set of stories. I'm looking forward to their next full length novel!
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